VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam UPDATED
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
VESCP - CORRECT ANSWER- Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 - CORRECT ANSWER- Stabilization
permanent or temporary soil stabilization shall be applied to denuded areas within seven days
after final grade is reached on any portion of the site; temporary soil stabilization shall be applied
within seven days to denuded areas that may not be at final grade but will remain dormant for
longer than 14 days; permanent stabilization shall be applied to areas that are to be left dormant
for more than one year
Site NOT at Final Grade - CORRECT ANSWER- - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
Site at Final Grade - CORRECT ANSWER- - stabilize in 7 days (recommended
immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 - CORRECT ANSWER- Stock Piles, Waste and Borrow Areas
,during construction, soil stock piles and borrow areas shall be stabilized or protected with
sediment trapping measures
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface from raindrop impact and silt fence intercepts
and detains from disturbed areas
Minimum Standard 3 - CORRECT ANSWER- Permanent Vegetation
permanent vegetation cover shall be established on denuded areas not otherwise permanently
stabilized (permanent vegetation shall not be considered established until a ground cover is
achieved that is uniform, mature enough to survive, and will inhibit erosion *there is no %
associated with this*)
reduce erosion and decrease sediment yield from disturbed area
this is the standard used to verify that a site is ready for release of bonds or surety
Minimum Standard 4 - CORRECT ANSWER- First-Step Measures
Sediment basins and traps, perimeter dikes, sediment barriers and other measures intended to
trap sediment shall be constructed as a first step in any land-disturbing activity and shall be made
functional before upslope land disturbance takes place
a certain amount of initial land disturbance may be required to provide access for equipment to
install the perimeter controls, but site clearing and grading should be kept to a minimum until the
perimeter controls are in place
intercepts and detains small amounts of sediment from disturbed areas during construction
operation to prevent sediment from leaving the site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and low-
to-moderate level channel flow
, Perimeter Controls - CORRECT ANSWER- assures that sediment does not leave the
perimeter of the land-disturbing area once site clearing, grading, and construction commences
Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment basins, construction entrance, temporary
diversions, diversions
Minimum Standard 5 - CORRECT ANSWER- Earthen Structure Stabilization
stabilization measures shall be applied to earthen structures such as dams, dikes, and diversions
immediately after installation
reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce damage from sediment and runoff to downstream
or off-site areas
Minimum Standard 6 - CORRECT ANSWER- Traps and Basins
sediment traps and basins shall be designed and constructed based upon the total drainage area
(not just disturbed area) to be served by the trap or basin
Sediment Traps - CORRECT ANSWER- minimum storage capacity shall be 134 cubic yards
per acre of drainage area and shall only control drainage areas less than 3 acres
*stone outlet = trap*
Sediment Basins - CORRECT ANSWER- surface runoff from disturbed areas that is
comprised of flow from drainage areas greater than or equal to 3 acres shall be controlled by a
basin; minimum storage capacity of a sediment basin shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of
drainage area; the outfall system shall, at a minimum, maintain the structural integrity of the
basin during a 25-year storm of 24-hour duration; runoff coefficients used in runoff calculations
shall correspond to a bare earth condition or those conditions expected to exist while the
sediment basin is utilized.
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
VESCP - CORRECT ANSWER- Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 - CORRECT ANSWER- Stabilization
permanent or temporary soil stabilization shall be applied to denuded areas within seven days
after final grade is reached on any portion of the site; temporary soil stabilization shall be applied
within seven days to denuded areas that may not be at final grade but will remain dormant for
longer than 14 days; permanent stabilization shall be applied to areas that are to be left dormant
for more than one year
Site NOT at Final Grade - CORRECT ANSWER- - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
Site at Final Grade - CORRECT ANSWER- - stabilize in 7 days (recommended
immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 - CORRECT ANSWER- Stock Piles, Waste and Borrow Areas
,during construction, soil stock piles and borrow areas shall be stabilized or protected with
sediment trapping measures
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface from raindrop impact and silt fence intercepts
and detains from disturbed areas
Minimum Standard 3 - CORRECT ANSWER- Permanent Vegetation
permanent vegetation cover shall be established on denuded areas not otherwise permanently
stabilized (permanent vegetation shall not be considered established until a ground cover is
achieved that is uniform, mature enough to survive, and will inhibit erosion *there is no %
associated with this*)
reduce erosion and decrease sediment yield from disturbed area
this is the standard used to verify that a site is ready for release of bonds or surety
Minimum Standard 4 - CORRECT ANSWER- First-Step Measures
Sediment basins and traps, perimeter dikes, sediment barriers and other measures intended to
trap sediment shall be constructed as a first step in any land-disturbing activity and shall be made
functional before upslope land disturbance takes place
a certain amount of initial land disturbance may be required to provide access for equipment to
install the perimeter controls, but site clearing and grading should be kept to a minimum until the
perimeter controls are in place
intercepts and detains small amounts of sediment from disturbed areas during construction
operation to prevent sediment from leaving the site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and low-
to-moderate level channel flow
, Perimeter Controls - CORRECT ANSWER- assures that sediment does not leave the
perimeter of the land-disturbing area once site clearing, grading, and construction commences
Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment basins, construction entrance, temporary
diversions, diversions
Minimum Standard 5 - CORRECT ANSWER- Earthen Structure Stabilization
stabilization measures shall be applied to earthen structures such as dams, dikes, and diversions
immediately after installation
reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce damage from sediment and runoff to downstream
or off-site areas
Minimum Standard 6 - CORRECT ANSWER- Traps and Basins
sediment traps and basins shall be designed and constructed based upon the total drainage area
(not just disturbed area) to be served by the trap or basin
Sediment Traps - CORRECT ANSWER- minimum storage capacity shall be 134 cubic yards
per acre of drainage area and shall only control drainage areas less than 3 acres
*stone outlet = trap*
Sediment Basins - CORRECT ANSWER- surface runoff from disturbed areas that is
comprised of flow from drainage areas greater than or equal to 3 acres shall be controlled by a
basin; minimum storage capacity of a sediment basin shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of
drainage area; the outfall system shall, at a minimum, maintain the structural integrity of the
basin during a 25-year storm of 24-hour duration; runoff coefficients used in runoff calculations
shall correspond to a bare earth condition or those conditions expected to exist while the
sediment basin is utilized.
